U.S. women’s soccer team back in S.A. in October

American forward Alex Morgan shoots during the first half of an exhibition soccer match against Australia in 2012. The two squads will square off in the Alamodome in October (AP photo).

The sports firsts are piling up in San Antonio. Good.

Major league baseball debuted here in March when the Rangers and Padres played a pair of preseason games in the Alamodome. Friday, the Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars will play at the AT&T Center in what will be the first National Hockey League match in the city since 1995.

Now the American women’s national soccer team will make its first visit in 17 years. If only the Cowboys and Texans would play an annual preseason game here, like the Cowboys and Oilers used to do, we’d really be on a roll.

Oh, well. Can’t have everything. But this latest streak is encouraging.

Anyway, the women’s national team will take on Australia in the Alamodome Oct. 20. Tickets go on sale Friday through Ticketmaster. NBC will broadcast the game live at 12:30 p.m.

The last time the team played here, it was against Sweden at Blossom in 1996; the Americans won, 3-0. A bit of trivia: The Swedish team featured future American coach Pia Sundhage at forward.

The Americans have a couple of streaks at stake — they’re undefeated in Texas (11-0) and have never lost to the Aussies, posting a 21-0-2 record. They’re ranked No. 1 in the world, the Matildas are No. 8.

And does the name Matildas ring a bell? It should, thanks a publicity stunt that earned them global attention years ago.

In 1999, the Australian women, tired of being ignored in their home country, posed nude for a calendar. The goal was to raise funds and gather attention, and it certainly succeeded on both counts. Especially since several players did full frontal shots, although the cover photo had only a single bare butt.

These days, baring all or almost all has become almost a cliche. ESPN the Magazine’s annual “The Body Issue” features male and female athletes in the buff (the 2011 edition included American goalkeeper Hope Solo); female athletes routinely pose for Playboy or Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition.

Back then, though, it caused a ruckus. But, according to Australian Women’s Soccer Association president Shirley Brown, it was the only way to increase the profile of the team.

“In Australia, women’s sport is still considered second rate,” she told the BBC back then. “No matter how good these girls are as soccer players, that is not enough to get the recognition that they deserve.”

Since then, their play has done the talking. They tied the Americans 1-1 at the 2004 Olympics in Greece; they made the World Cup quarterfinals in 2007 and 2011. Both teams are eyeing the 2015 World Cup, to be held in Canada.

“We’re certainly looking forward to facing an Australian team that will be a great challenge tactically and physically,” American coach Tom Sermanni said in a news release.

He should know. He coached the Matildas from 1994-97 and again from 2005-2012 before replacing Sundhage as the American coach Jan. 1.